New Zealand introducing changes to protect temporary migrant workers
New Zealand is a dream immigration destination for many people looking for a better life. Unfortunately, some migrants go there and then find themselves working for a boss who exploits them.
These employers are in the minority, but the New Zealand Government has had enough. The Government has now committed to spending NZ$50 million over the next four years to introduce changes that’ll reduce the risk of exploitation in the workplace.
Changes implemented will prevent worker exploitation, protect temporary migrant workers and deter employer non-compliance
Temporary New Zealand work visas are tied to specific employers. This makes it near impossible for migrants to leave exploitative situations.
To enable migrants to leave these situations without negatively affecting their immigration status, the Government has undertaken to create a new temporary work visa for this purpose.
The Government will also set up a free telephone number and reporting services to receive and handle complaints about exploitative work situations. This will ensure that there is a dedicate focus on dealing with complaints. It will also help build a better understanding of the nature and scale of the problem.
In tandem with these change, the Government will set higher standards for franchises, labour hire companies and similar businesses where migrant exploitation often occurs.
Further to this, the Government wants to:
- Disqualify employers convicted of migrant exploitation from managing or directing a company
- Prevent exploitative employers from accessing migrant labour in the future
- Establish new immigration and employment infringement offences targeting non-compliant employer behavior
Government will launch an awareness campaign to support the changes
Protecting migrant workers will also require that temporary workers know their rights and that employers are aware of their obligations.
To achieve both of these goals, the Government will launch an awareness campaign to educate both migrant workers and employers on labour matters.
At the same time, the Government will also make the general public aware of migrant exploitation. This, we suspect, to empower the public to assist in the fight against workers being taken advantage of by employers.
Employment rights continued to be enforced in the meantime
While the Government is implementing these changes, the relevant labour departments will continue to enforce and monitor existing employment rights in workplaces across New Zealand. This includes rights like minimum wages and leave entitlements.
In summary…
The New Zealand Government has decided to crack down on exploitative employers. The goal is to create better work environments for temporary migrant workers.
In order to achieve this goal, a number of changes will be implemented over the next four years. These changes aim to protect migrant workers while holding New Zealand employers accountable for their actions.
If you’d like to stay up to date with these changes, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn where we’ll post the relevant news as it happens.
- Published in News, Working in New Zealand
4 Uncomfortable truths about emigrating (Plus the good news)
Immigrating is a huge undertaking. Especially if you’re doing it as a family! However, most people entering the emigration process do not fully realise what lies ahead.
Is it worth it? Of course! You’re opening doors to new opportunities and a better life for yourself and your family.
But how do you prepare yourself for the journey? A good way to start is by reading the uncomfortable truths (and the good news) below.
1. There’s going to be a lot of admin
Many applicants are surprised by the amount of admin that’s involved in their application.
You have to gather the required documents, complete the necessary paperwork, do the applicable tests, and apply for professional registrations if your occupation asks for it.
Everything has to happen at the right time too and it also has to happen in a way or format that meets Immigration New Zealand’s requirements.
The good news
Our immigration advisers guide you every step of the way. You’ll know exactly what is required of you and when it is required. Our team even go as far as booking English tests for you, leaving you with more time to focus on the other parts of your emigration.
2. You might not be able to emigrate as quickly as you’d like
You can’t wait to pack your bags and get on that aeroplane! And who can blame you? New Zealand is a dream destination.
Unfortunately, your emigration might not always happen as quickly as you want it to.
For instance, Immigration New Zealand might get an influx of applications for a new visa category which means everyone has to wait a bit longer on their outcome of their visas. Or, as we all now know, a pandemic could strike!
The good news
You can rest assured that we always compile your application as quickly as possible. And while we cannot influence Immigration New Zealand’s process or decision in any way, we do undertake to ensure that you’re never left in the dark about what’s happening with your application.
3. Emigration is not cheap
There are a lot of costs to consider when emigrating, from paying the movers to putting down a deposit on a home or importing your pet. You’ll also have to pay government fees and you might need to pay for English tests and registrations too.
The good news
When you deal with us, you’ll know exactly how much your visa application will cost. Simply book a consultation call!
Firstly, and most importantly, you’ll discover during the consultation call if you are eligible to move to New Zealand. You don’t want to spend money on a visa application if you don’t!
If you are eligible to immigrate to New Zealand, our licensed advisor will also discuss your visa options with you. However, if you aren’t immediately eligible, our advisor will discuss the best way forward.
After the call, if you are eligible to apply for a visa, you’ll get a complete quote outlining the costs of your application. Our team can also refer you to reputable pet importers and English language teachers so that you have an even better idea of the costs involved.
4. Emigration is not for the faint-hearted
It is almost guaranteed that your stress and anxiety levels will rise during the application process. Mostly because it’s an unfamiliar process and because it’s such an important step in your life.
The good news
Our advisers will see to it that don’t have to go through it alone. Our team will always ensure that your stress and anxiety is kept to a minimum by seeing to it that all requirements are met and by giving you realistic timelines and expectations.
Here’s what some of our recent clients had to say:
I highly recommend Intergate Emigration.
The team is amazing, they have always answered my question very quickly and understanable.
The whole application process went very well even during the pandemic.
I would suggest every future applicant to Maike’s team.
Thank you for making my dream come true.
~ Marcel Pangerl
We as the Sweeney family are proud to offer our recommendation of Maike Versfeld to whom we have got to known better over the last 3 years as our immigration agent.
During our relationship we have experienced an individual who works hard and carries herself in a polite, respectable manner.
Maike is a highly qualified person, she takes all your concerns in consideration. She listens to your needs and advise accordingly. She plans ahead and prepare you for the next step. She is understanding and took our family’s move very seriously.
We are extremely satisfied with Maike’s service, it is worth every cent. We did not have to re-submit any paperwork , all was done once.
We thank you Maike for your kind words when we were worried. We can not think how difficult it could have been if this was not handled by you.
THANK YOU!
~ Anel Sweeney
We highly recommend Katrin and her team at Intergate Emigration!
It was a long process to organise everything as my husband and I have been married for over 6 years and we had no idea how much information was needed. From the first initial contact Katrin made us feel relieved and confident that they would be available for any information if needed.
A very special thank you to Natanya, she was amazing and if we had any questions she was happy to answer them. Many emails went back and forth. We really felt that we were in capable hands.
What I like best was the personal touch, especially the phone call to inform us that both visas were granted.
We are so grateful and appreciate everything that was done for us and we have no hesitation in recommending Intergate Emigration.
~ Karen Eichinger
Ready to make your emigration easier?
Book that consultation call! Our advisors will assess your eligibility, and guide and support you through your visa application.
- Published in New Zealand Immigration Advice
Why should I do a visa assessment for New Zealand?
Our advice when people ask us where to start is always – “By doing a visa assessment for New Zealand.” We say this because a visa assessment reveals if you’re eligible to apply to for a visa to live in New Zealand.
You can choose to jump straight into a visa application – but that could have disastrous consequences. Imagine, for instance, how gutted you’ll be if you find out that you’ve spent months on an application for a visa for which you don’t qualify.
But ensuring that apply for the correct visa is only one way in which a visa assessment benefits you. Here are five more reasons why you should do an assessment:
1. You do not waste money
Let’s say you want to apply for a work visa or residency through the skilled migrant visa.
In most cases you’ll need to secure a job offer in order to secure the visa or residency. As the job search and visa process go hand-in-hand, there are sections of your visa application that should go ahead – and you should only be paying for these parts.
Yet there are many horror stories of applicants paying immigration companies in full for visa applications, only to see no progress with their planned migration.
Why? Because they didn’t go through an assessment phase where the application process is explained to them.
If you do an assessment, you’ll understand how the pieces of this puzzle fit together – and when it’s a good or bad idea to part with your money.
2. You do not build up false hopes of moving to New Zealand
So you’ve spotted your occupation on a skills shortage list and you’re over the moon. You’re moving to New Zealand!Not so fast. Just because your occupation appears on a New Zealand skills shortage list, doesn’t mean emigration is a given for you.
You’ll still need to meet a long list of other requirements to make it into New Zealand!
That’s where a visa assessment comes in. It measures your skills, occupations and qualifications, plus various other criteria, against what Immigration New Zealand asks of immigrants.
In other words, once you’ve completed your assessment, you’ll know for a fact whether or not New Zealand is a realistic dream for you.
3. You find out if you meet the basic criteria for a New Zealand visa or residency
Doing a visa assessment for New Zealand will ensure that you meet the basic emigration criteria before you make a visa application.
This means you avoid unfortunate mistakes like:
- An application that fail because it didn’t cover the required details.
- Claiming experience that is not valid.
- Getting an incorrect points score.
- Missing opportunities for visa types.
- Forgetting that all family members must meet certain criteria.
- And the list goes on….
Instead, you submit an application that’s prepared correctly, in the full knowledge that you meet all requirements.
4. You discover the best route forward
A comprehensive visa assessment for New Zealand will reveal how you should proceed with your immigration.
In other words, you’ll know what visa you can apply for and with what parts of the visa process you can proceed. You’ll also know where there are still gaps, for instance documents that you might have to apply for in order to complete certain parts of the application process.
5. You also get to ask any question you may have
It is to be expected that you have a long list of questions about immigration to New Zealand. If you’re dealing with a reputable advisor, he or she will give you an opportunity to ask all those questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask any questions! Immigrating is a huge undertaking and you owe it to yourself to have all the information you feel that you need.
Ready to take a visa assessment for New Zealand?
At Intergate Emigration, our advisors are licensed and registered with New Zealand’s IAA. That means our advisors are authorised to give immigration advice for New Zealand.
You can get advice by booking a consultation call. One of our licensed advisors will assess your eligibility and then discuss your visa options with you. You’ll know exactly what you chances of immigrating is and how to proceed!
- Published in New Zealand Immigration Advice
How do I know which New Zealand immigration advisers I can trust?
There are many stories of people being swindled by unscrupulous New Zealand immigration advisers.
Often people are left without savings in their bank accounts. Even worse – deported, because the visa turned out be fake!
The best way to make sure that the person you are dealing with is the real deal, is to check that they are licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA), or exempted to give advice. If you cannot find the ‘agent’ on here, walk away and do not deal with them.
There are other ways to tell too. Usually the signs come in the form of false promises or, plain and simple, outright lies.
Here is a list of things that unscrupulous operators might say to you:
I can guarantee that you will get a visa to New Zealand.
This is false. No-one can guarantee you will get a visa. Only authorised officers can give you a visa and only when you have met all the visa requirements.
Pay now to register for the migration program.
This is not how things work. You pay your visa application charge when you lodge your application.
Please note: Advisers are allowed to charge for their services, but the charges must be fair and reasonable in the circumstances. You may wish to speak to several advisers before signing on the dotted line with one, as no two advisers will offer the same experience and level service, which also influences fees.
This is a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ or your ‘only’ chance to travel or migrate to New Zealand.
It might be hard to believe, but some fraudulent agents actually call people to offer them visas. It’s then framed as an opportunity not to be missed. All to get money out of you!
IAA licensed agents will never call you first to offer you migration ‘opportunities’. This is a client relationship that always start with the client, i.e. you, contacting the agent.
Only I can pay the charges, give me your money and I will pay the charges for you.
False again. You can pay your own visa application charge. However, you might still choose to let your migration adviser do it for you – but only if you are sure you are dealing with a licensed adviser!
I have a special relationship with INZ.
No-one has a ‘special relationship’ with Immigration New Zealand (INZ). INZ treats all visa applications in a fair and impartial way.
I am a skilled migration service provider/New Zealand government registered/department registered.
The only New Zealand immigration advisers you should deal with, are IAA licensed immigration advisers. Do not take any adviser on their word only! Ask to see an IAA license number.
Don’t worry, INZ is still processing your visa.
Do not just accept this. Ask for a copy of the confirmation letter to ensure that your application was submitted.
Keep in mind though that some applications do take longer than others, so there will be times that your immigration agent won’t have any feedback for you.
Want to know if you can trust our New Zealand immigration advisers?
We have two licensed immigration advisors for New Zealand – Maike Versfeld and Katrin Maja O’Flynn. You can get to know them better on our website or go straight their profiles on the IAA website:
Please feel free to contact us to discuss your immigration journey!
- Published in New Zealand Immigration Advice